Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act

Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act
Shorttitle	Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act
Longtitle	An Act to promote the adoption and meaningful use of Health Information Technology and to improve Quality of Care
Enactedby	111th United States Congress
Citations	Public Law 111-5
Effective	February 17, 2009
Introducedby	Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid

Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act is a significant piece of legislation that aims to improve the United States Healthcare System by promoting the adoption of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Health Information Exchange (HIE) among Healthcare Providers such as American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, and American Nurses Association. The Act was enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed into law by Barack Obama, with the goal of enhancing the Quality of Care and reducing Healthcare Costs for patients, as envisioned by Don Berwick, Atul Gawande, and Ezekiel Emanuel. This legislation has been influenced by the work of various organizations, including the National Committee for Quality Assurance, The Joint Commission, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Introduction

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act was introduced to address the need for improved Health Information Technology in the United States Healthcare System, as highlighted by Institute of Medicine reports, such as To Err Is Human and Crossing the Quality Chasm. The Act aims to promote the adoption of Electronic Health Records and Health Information Exchange among Healthcare Providers, including Hospitals, Physician Practices, and Nursing Homes, as recommended by David Blumenthal, Farzad Mostashari, and Karen DeSalvo. This effort is supported by organizations such as the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, American Health Information Management Association, and the National Alliance for Health Information Technology. The Act also seeks to improve the Quality of Care and reduce Healthcare Costs for patients, as envisioned by Peter Orszag, Donald Berwick, and Atul Gawande, and in line with the goals of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Legislative History

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act was enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which was signed into law by Barack Obama on February 17, 2009. The Act was introduced in the House of Representatives by Nancy Pelosi and in the Senate by Harry Reid, with the support of Max Baucus, Ted Kennedy, and Olympia Snowe. The legislation was influenced by the work of various organizations, including the National Committee for Quality Assurance, The Joint Commission, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, as well as the recommendations of David Brailer, Mark Leavitt, and Robert Kolodner. The Act has been amended by subsequent legislation, including the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, which was signed into law by Barack Obama and supported by Paul Ryan, Nancy Pelosi, and Mitch McConnell.

Key Provisions

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act includes several key provisions, such as the creation of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), which is headed by Don Rucker, and the establishment of the Health Information Technology Policy Committee (HITPC), which is chaired by National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. The Act also provides funding for the adoption of Electronic Health Records and Health Information Exchange among Healthcare Providers, as well as incentives for Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records, as defined by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Additionally, the Act includes provisions for the development of Health Information Exchange standards, as recommended by National Institute of Standards and Technology and Health Level Seven International, and the creation of the State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program, which is administered by Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and supported by National Association of State Health Information Exchanges.

Implementation and Impact

The implementation of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act has had a significant impact on the United States Healthcare System, with many Healthcare Providers adopting Electronic Health Records and participating in Health Information Exchange initiatives, such as the Direct Project and National Health Information Network. The Act has also led to the development of new Health Information Technology standards, such as the Meaningful Use standards, which are certified by Drummond Group and InfoGard Laboratories, and the creation of new Health Information Exchange models, such as the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) model, which is supported by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and American Medical Association. According to reports by Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Act has improved the Quality of Care and reduced Healthcare Costs for patients, as envisioned by Peter Orszag, Donald Berwick, and Atul Gawande.

Privacy and Security

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act includes provisions to protect the Privacy and Security of Protected Health Information (PHI), as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and enforced by Office for Civil Rights. The Act requires Healthcare Providers to implement Security Measures to protect Electronic Health Records and Health Information Exchange systems, as recommended by National Institute of Standards and Technology and Health Information Trust Alliance. Additionally, the Act includes provisions for Breach Notification, which is administered by Office for Civil Rights and supported by Identity Theft Resource Center and Ponemon Institute. The Act also establishes the Health Information Technology Policy Committee (HITPC) to develop recommendations for Privacy and Security standards, as chaired by National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and supported by American Health Information Management Association and Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.

Criticisms and Controversies

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act has faced criticisms and controversies, including concerns about the Cost of implementing Electronic Health Records and Health Information Exchange systems, as reported by Government Accountability Office and Congressional Budget Office. Some Healthcare Providers have also expressed concerns about the Complexity of the Meaningful Use standards, as certified by Drummond Group and InfoGard Laboratories, and the Burden of Documentation requirements, as recommended by American Medical Association and American Hospital Association. Additionally, there have been concerns about the Privacy and Security of Protected Health Information (PHI), as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and enforced by Office for Civil Rights, and the potential for Data Breaches, as reported by Ponemon Institute and Identity Theft Resource Center. Despite these challenges, the Act has been supported by many organizations, including the National Committee for Quality Assurance, The Joint Commission, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and has been recognized as a key step towards improving the Quality of Care and reducing Healthcare Costs in the United States Healthcare System, as envisioned by Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid.

Category:United States Healthcare